No steps to enhance redistribution to address alarming inequality in the country
The Right to Food Campaign is deeply disappointed to note that in the budget announcement for 2024-25 rather than enhancing spending in the critical area of food security, the budget has either remained stagnant or has declined.
The budget estimate for the food subsidy under the National Food Security Act for Financial Year (FY) 2024-25 is Rs. 2.05 lakh crore which is 3.3% less than the revised estimates for the previous financial year. When by all accounts, it is clear that the country is facing a major crisis of malnutrition and food insecurity, it is indeed shocking that the food subsidy budget has been cut. A study published in the JAMA (a peer-reviewed medical journal) found that India had by far the largest number of zero-food children (6.7 million), which is almost half of all zero-food children in the 92 countries included in this study. The latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) also shows that only 56% of Indians reported eating three meals a day.
The budgetary allocations are also proportionately lower as the increase in population has not been factored into it. From the budget numbers, it appears no allocation is being made to provide rations to migrant/unorganised sector workers as directed by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had in April 2023 directed all State/UT governments to issue ration cards under NFSA to the 8 crore persons who are registered on the eShram portal but do not possess ration cards. The court had taken cognisance of the fact that the coverage of persons getting rations under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) is to be determined based on the latest census and as the census of 2021 has not been undertaken, the coverage continues to be based on the 2011 census even though the population has increased- thereby leading to exclusion of more than 10 crore people from the purview of the food security net. In the most recent hearing on July 16, 2024, the Supreme Court has set out a timeline of 4 weeks for states to give the additional ration cards and has directed the central government to provide additional allocation of foodgrains. However, no budgetary provision has been made for complying with the Supreme Court’s directions, a clear violation of people’s right to food.
The POSHAN (school mid-day meal) scheme sees a slight increase from BE 2023-24 of ₹11,600 crores to ₹12,467 crores (this is however less than the actual expenditure on this scheme in 2022-23 of ₹12,681 crores). The Saksham Anganwadi scheme for children under six years, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescent girls, also sees a decrease and gets a budgetary allocation of ₹21,200 crore (RE 2023-24 was ₹21,523 crores). It is clear that there is no hope for an increase in salaries paid to Anganwadi workers (which have not been revised since 2018) the honorarium for mid-day meal cooks or for higher allocations for the supplementary nutrition given to children enabling better quality food and inclusion of eggs/fruits/milk as has been recommended by many.
Samarthya which includes maternity entitlements (Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, PMMVY) and the creche schemes sees a reduction in its allocation to ₹2,517 crores compared to BE 2023-24 of ₹2,582 crores. The PMMVY is known to exclude at least half the eligible women and the amount of ₹5,000 per pregnant woman has remained unchanged since the inception of the scheme in 2017. The lack of intent and will in implementing this crucial scheme is clear from the downward revision in the RE last year- 1863.85. At a time when all studies, including NFHS data, indicate alarming levels of anaemia in women (57% as per NFHS-5), enhancing the coverage and entitlement under PMMVY should have been a key priority for this government.
The Union Budget has once again failed to address the rural distress. The allocations for the MGNREGA is the same as the revised estimates for last year. The Budget has neglected the long-standing demands of the farmers for MSP at C2+50% with guaranteed procurement. This has been a strong demand for the Right to Food Campaign as well for many years in support of farmers in their struggle.
The budget for the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) which gives social security pensions to the old, single women and disabled remains unchanged at ₹9,652 crores. Once again, this is a reduction in real terms and does not leave any room for an increase in coverage or the amount to adjust for inflation. The central contribution to these social security pensions has been a paltry ₹200 per person per month since 2009.
It is important to highlight that given the clubbing of schemes under new names/missions, it is impossible to figure out the exact scheme-wise allocation and reductions. For instance, Mission Shakti (Samarthya) includes Shakti Sadan, Shakhi Niwas, Palna -Creche facility, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Hub for Women Empowerment, Gender Budgeting and Research/ Skilling/ Training/Media Advocacy. The budget only provides the overall allocation for the mission, without the component-wise break-up – thereby preventing a detailed analysis of each specific scheme. Even for Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN and even food subsidies under NFSA, the components have been merged, thereby preventing detailed scrutiny. This lack of transparency hampers public engagement with the budget.
The Right to Food Campaign is shocked at the apathy and uncaring attitude of the government towards people, especially those most in need of food and nutrition support. Rather than dismissing reports highlighting the ground reality of hunger and malnutrition and spending time and resources to counter them, the government should acknowledge the problems and enhance food security provisions. The government has failed to include any measures to address the alarming levels of inequality in the country and continues to be anti-poor and pro-corporate.
On behalf of the Steering Committee of the Right to Food Campaign:
